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Ford Model A Pickup Restoration April 2018

In April, I was able to test my self made wheel gripper. It works as expected and my car did not crash … ;-)

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Since the upper part does tilt when lifting, I want to make a removable bracket.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

A rough sketch with the dimensions is created …

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

… and the parts are already prepared for the next step.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Welded and with 4 threads, it's ready for a first fit.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

My crossbars still have very little play but are now secured against tilt.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Let's make the first test with full load and see if it works without problems. First I drive the jack between the front wheels and insert the round steel parts from both sides of the wheel. What I have to say is that the wheels are on a 10 cm high wooden block. Later, I will replace this with self-made ramps.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Now I can lift the car to about 50 cm above ground. I still have enough space (5 cm) between the wheel gripper and the underbody of the car across the entire width.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

At this point I have to thank Gerhard, who has built my 2016 wheel gripper (a little bit more professional than mine …) and has made two major improvements that I have now taken over. One is for lower vehicles to arrange the gripper arms horizontally rather than diagonally down as I originally had. Precondition is that the vehicle must stand on a 10 cm ramp. The second improvement relates to the tilting of the gripper which can be prevented by additionally put a tube over the round steel, so that the tube can turn along the wheel when lifting the car. Based on my mark you can see that it has turned the tube when lifting by 50-60 degrees. I greased the pipe slightly on the inner side so that it can turn easily.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Now I put my 40 cm high jack stands under the wheels and lower the jack. Then remove the 4 round steels and I can remove the jack from under the car.

Ford Model A Restoration Project April 2018

Here is a picture of how the wheel gripper looks assembled. Since everything works now, I can finally paint it and this time I will also deliver the drawings.